Subhi Aryan, left, and sister Majida, wait their turn to walk the stage during the 3:30 p.m. North Salem High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, August 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
They waited months to don caps and gowns, hoping they’d be able to enjoy one traditional rite of passage for high school seniors.
This week, over 2,000 local students saw their patience pay off as they walked across the graduation stage, seeing friends and principals in person for the first time in months since Covid upended the lives of the class of 2020.
“We’re just so proud to be able to finally celebrate them. We’re thankful that we were patient and that we could actually hand them the diploma,” Superintendent Christy Perry said.
The Salem-Keizer school district is holding nearly 50 small outdoor graduation ceremonies this week, allowing students to earn diplomas in groups of about 45 as family and friends sit in clusters in school stadiums.
West, Sprague, McKay and North high schools held six to eight ceremonies earlier this week, running back-to-back with brief speeches from administrators.
“It’s working!” said Sara LeRoy, the departing North Salem principal, as she prepared for the day’s fifth ceremony. With a recording of Pomp and Circumstance, the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief speech from LeRoy, the roughly 40 graduates were tossing their caps in the air just 20 minutes after the ceremony began.
Graduates sit in socially distanced chairs during the 3:30 p.m. North Salem High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, August 6. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Roberts High School, Early College High School, the Teen Parent Program and the Community Transition Program also held small ceremonies this week. McNary seniors are graduating Aug. 7.
South Salem High School will be the last in the district, with eight ceremonies for a total of 260 graduates spread out Aug. 8. Principal Lara Tiffin said she’s preparing to give the same brief speech eight times.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to do it blindfolded by the last one,” Tiffin said.
Subhi Aryan, who graduated from North Salem High School with his sister, Majida, on August 6, had a long road to his diploma. His family, originally from Syria, was resettled in Salem in 2016 after living in Turkey for three years.
Aryan finished elementary school in Syria, but worked to support his family rather than attending middle school in Turkey. When he arrived in Salem, he’d spent years out of the classroom and didn’t speak any English.
“It was so hard for me,” he said.
With tutoring and help – he credited a math teacher with helping him understand and grow to love the subject – Aryan finished his high school requirements and joined classmates for a Aug. 6 afternoon ceremony – the fifth of eight celebrations North Salem High School administrators held.
Though wearing a mask, Aryan’s smile was apparent in his eyes.
“I am feeling so happy,” he said and he began the walk toward the stage.
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Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
